"I'm free, I'm free!"

Jack left the morning of my birthday for a 10 day training that started in Anchorage and ended in Unalakleet. Luckily two days after he left we joined him in Anchorage for 5 days. I took this picture flying away while screaming in my head, "I'm free, I'm free!" I'm not one for isolation. While living in Orem and then Provo I was adamant about living only a couple miles off the I-15 for quick access anywhere! Now I live a bush plane flight to another village/town and then a jet to Anchorage. Funny how things change.

The bright blue roof is the school.

It can be kind of drafty on these planes so all winter gear is left on.  We flew Bering Air instead of Ravn this time and the planes are much roomier and a bit quieter.  When we flew into the village for the first time I thought I would loose my hearing flying in these planes multiple times.

We had a layover in Nome of several hours so i made the kids go on a walk to kill some time.  It was chillier than I expected so we didn't make it far.  We found a frozen puddle to ice skate, then fall and get wet.  Which was followed by tears and dirty pants...

Jack was in trainings all day so we went exploring.  We drove to Eagle River where the 3rd largest National park in Alaska is.  We luckily found a short trail to hike.  It was about 10-15 degrees warmer in Anchorage than in the village, but I forgot how could it gets in the mountains!  The drive in was beautiful. 

Hotel time!  The kids looked forward to jumping on the beds and watching tv.

We had some late nights running around Anchorage shopping.  They got books from their pediatrician appointment and read while we waited for Jack to go in one last store before it closed.  The day before we left we went refrigerator and frozen food shopping.  I can get almost anything shipped free to me from amazon or walmart except for the frozen foods.  We had 80 pounds of cheese, meat, and tortillas that we split up between a cooler and suitcases.  The hotel was used to people visiting from the bush so they offer to take coolers to their freezer.  I wouldn't have even thought about something like this in the lower 48.

Ila got a new coat and it is her favorite color, pink!  Her brown fake fur coat wasn't cutting it without a hood and getting small. 

I was so looking forward to eating out while planning this trip.  Being the full time cook of the house is exhausting and not being able to supplement take out/eating out once in awhile is not cool.  The closest thing we have to eating out is school lunch!  A guy named Michael knocks on our door spontaneously to sell donuts, which I always buy.  So while we were there we ate sushi twice and the other chain restaurants that I love! 

Jack got new glasses and he looks so handsome!

Kids night at Texas Roadhouse!

 Enjoying an apple.  The last day I bought just one apple in the grocery store to eat in the car and that was the first time I've ever done that.  I usually get some chocolate, but with fruit not being in the village store often I miss it!

H20 Oasis reminded me of Seven Peaks.  Regular admission is over priced and the facility is a bit run down...we loved it!  They loved Captain Hook's boat and the other kids who were playing.  I wanted to do something that we couldn't do in our village and that was especially fun for the kids.

2 1/2 hours wasn't long enough for them!  Drying off before leaving.  This was a much needed trip for my sanity.  I loved wearing jewelry and lipstick again so I felt like me!  Roads were paved and our amazing friends loaned us their van to drive.  It gave me energy to return to the village and my simple life.